Communion - spin-off

Just curious - if your child is making their First Communion this year - are you required to go to church every week?

We are. We can only miss 2 masses (including holy days of obligation).

Just seeing what's the norm.

Re: Communion - spin-off

She has little slips that she puts her name on and puts in the collection basket each week. But they did not tell us we HAVE to go or that we can only miss so many masses.
It's more like- you should be going as it's important for them.

I am not sure if they contact people who they see aren't going regularly. We go every week so I don't know.

Re: Communion - spin-off

Our church suggests you go every Sunday but it is not mandatory.

I liked how our Rel Ed director put it though. Would your kid show up to a game without ever practicing? So going to church before your communion is practicing for the big day.

Communion - spin-off

I'd have no problem going, because I think it should be done. I just don't think it's sending the right message making the kids go - kwim?

My son HATES church and is counting down the days until he doesn't have to go every week anymore.

I think if we went because we WANTED to - he may feel differently?

ETA - And on the Holy days of obligation - it's really hard to get him to 7:30pm mass since I'm not home for the 7am or 4:30 and he's in school for the others.

Message edited 2/26/2018 3:20:51 PM.

Re: Communion - spin-off

We were told its mandatory. Yet weve missed masses and plenty of Laras friends missed masses. They have no way of keeping track if families go or not.

Re: Communion - spin-off

It's kind of ridiculous to limit it to 2 missed masses. What if you are sick or your child is sick? That alone can be more than 2 absences.

Way too strict IMO

Re: Communion - spin-off

My DS made communion last year, but every year of religion so far (including communion year), they asked that we attend 5 masses between September and December, and then another 5 between January and end of April or early May (whenever religion ends).

Re: Communion - spin-off

Communion - spin-off

They are encouraged to attend every Sunday but their only requirement is a mass reflection sheet that they have to complete once a month.

Re: Communion - spin-off

Posted by ali120206

Posted by Laraaidan

We were told its mandatory. Yet weve missed masses and plenty of Laras friends missed masses. They have no way of keeping track if families go or not.

We have little slips we have to hand to the priest at the end of mass (I guess they don't trust us to stay if we hand it in with the collection like Nell ) If we go to another parish - we need a signed bulletin with the slip stapled on.

The other parish in our town has laminated index cards that they hand in and get back at PREP class during the week (they have to go every week even when it's not a sacrament year).

Was just trying to get an idea if this was just my area? Since most churches in our county (Rockland) have implemented this.

Re: Communion - spin-off

Posted by ali120206

Posted by Laraaidan

We were told its mandatory. Yet weve missed masses and plenty of Laras friends missed masses. They have no way of keeping track if families go or not.

We have little slips we have to hand to the priest at the end of mass (I guess they don't trust us to stay if we hand it in with the collection like Nell ) If we go to another parish - we need a signed bulletin with the slip stapled on.

The other parish in our town has laminated index cards that they hand in and get back at PREP class during the week (they have to go every week even when it's not a sacrament year).

Was just trying to get an idea if this was just my area? Since most churches in our county (Rockland) have implemented this.

Re: Communion - spin-off

my daughters go to catholic school, we are given a paper that lists every sunday and holy day of obligation for 3 months at a time we have to get it signed by the priest every sunday, they never said how many you are allowed to miss,
and all the grades 2-8 get this paper not just sacrament grades

Communion - spin-off

Similar to Ali...
We have laminated index cards that DD has to hand to the priest after mass. If we go to another parish then she needs a signed bulletin by the priest. She gets the card back when she attends religious classes during the week. This is for every grade not just communion year.

Re: Communion - spin-off

Ours tells the kids they should go but they don't check or ask the kids.

Re: Communion - spin-off

We have scheduled mandatory masses. We are not required to attend mass every week though it is encouraged. They are given collection envelopes at the beginning of the year that are used for attendance purposes. If they don't think you are attending enough masses they send home a warning letter. ( I would know as I received for both kids)

Communion - spin-off

What happens if you miss it?

Re: Communion - spin-off

Communion - spin-off

I have friends who go to a particular church, and they have to get the mass bulletin signed each week. A lot of them get bulletins signed for each other.....which cracks me up because it's basically teaching your kid to lie to the church

Re: Communion - spin-off

Posted by BargainMama

I have friends who go to a particular church, and they have to get the mass bulletin signed each week. A lot of them get bulletins signed for each other.....which cracks me up because it's basically teaching your kid to lie to the church

Re: Communion - spin-off

Required no... Suggested yes..We do what we can and feel. At times we are there every week sometimes we skip a few weeks. We do go to all the required meetings and masses.

A monthly mass reflections sheet is to be handed in but we stopped that awhile back feeling it had no bearing on our childrens faith